Genetic modulation of oxytocin sensitivity: a pharmacogenetic approach.

Chen FS, Kumsta R, Dvorak F, Domes G, Yim OS, Ebstein RP, Heinrichs M

Translational psychiatry27 Oct 2015Cited by 43 (Europe PMC)

PMID26506050PMCIDPMC4930136DOI10.1038/tp.2015.163PepBankPUB-26506050

Summary

Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to influence a range of complex social cognitions and social behaviors, and it holds therapeutic potential for the treatment of mental disorders characterized by social functioning deficits such as autism, social phobia and borderline personality disorder. However, considerable variability exists in individual responses to oxytocin administration. Here, we undertook a study to investigate the role of genetic variation in sensitivity to exogenous oxytocin using a socioemotional task. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment with a repeated-measures (crossover) design, we assessed the performance of 203 men on an emotion recognition task under oxytocin and placebo. We took a haplotype-based approach to investigate the association between oxytocin receptor gene variation and oxytocin sensitivity. We identified a six-marker haplotype block spanning the promoter region and intron 3 that was significantly associated with our measure of oxytocin sensitivity. Specifically, the TTCGGG haplotype comprising single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs237917-rs2268498-rs4564970-rs237897-rs2268495-rs53576 is associated with increased emotion recognition performance under oxytocin versus placebo, and the CCGAGA haplotype with the opposite pattern. These results on the genetic modulation of sensitivity to oxytocin document a significant source of individual differences with implications for personalized treatment approaches using oxytocin administration.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, a six-marker haplotype block of the oxytocin receptor gene was significantly associated with sensitivity to oxytocin on an emotion recognition task.
In plain wordsIn men, a variation in the oxytocin receptor gene was linked to how strongly oxytocin changed emotion recognition.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableAssociation of oxytocin receptor gene haplotype block with oxytocin sensitivity
Study
n = 203
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We identified a six-marker haplotype block spanning the promoter region and intron 3 that was significantly associated with our measure of oxytocin sensitivity.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment with a repeated-measures (crossover) design, we assessed the performance of 203 men on an emotion recognition task under oxytocin and placebo.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2650605001
02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, the TTCGGG haplotype was associated with increased emotion recognition performance under oxytocin versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men with one gene variant, emotion recognition was better under oxytocin than under placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseEmotion recognition under oxytocin in TTCGGG haplotype
Study
n = 203
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, the TTCGGG haplotype comprising single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs237917-rs2268498-rs4564970-rs237897-rs2268495-rs53576 is associated with increased emotion recognition performance under oxytocin versus placebo
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment with a repeated-measures (crossover) design, we assessed the performance of 203 men on an emotion recognition task under oxytocin and placebo.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2650605002
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, the CCGAGA haplotype was associated with the opposite pattern, lower emotion recognition performance under oxytocin versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men with another gene variant, emotion recognition was worse under oxytocin than under placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseEmotion recognition under oxytocin in CCGAGA haplotype
Study
n = 203
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
the CCGAGA haplotype with the opposite pattern.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment with a repeated-measures (crossover) design, we assessed the performance of 203 men on an emotion recognition task under oxytocin and placebo.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2650605003

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Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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